Best last minute train journeys for the long weekend

Another long weekend is coming up, and with the beautiful weather, even more people will be looking to get out of the city. If you haven’t booked yet, don’t worry – while flights may be booked out, there are still plenty of train tickets available, and the beauty of travelling by train is that the trip is part of the journey! If you’re dreaming of a long weekend getaway, here are three great options to make the most of it:

Reims

The obvious choice for the warm long weekend coming up might be Paris, but just another hour and a half on the train will take you to beautiful Reims, in the northern part of the champagne district. Take the Eurostar to Paris, and from there another train to Reims Ville. Tickets from London St Pancras for Friday evening with a Monday evening return are currently priced at £584.

Once you get to Reims, get settled in beautiful Hotel De Templiers only ten minutes from the historic centre. This four star hotel is located in a 19th century building and offers guests a relaxation area, attentive concierge service and beautiful terrace for drinking and dining. Standard rooms start from €155 per night. Once settled, explore the historic centre of Reims Ville and don’t forget to visit the cathedral with its 2,303 statues!

In the heart of Champagne, you can’t miss a tour of the vineyards. On Montagne de Reims, every square acre is filled with vineyards belonging to different houses, the most well-known one being Veuve Cliquot. They offer full-day tours of the vineyards, including a three course lunch, for £250 per person.

Cornwall

For those who would prefer to stay in the UK, Cornwall is a beautiful six-hour train journey from London, with tickets starting from £158. There are several beach towns in the region that are all worth a visit, but for this long weekend, why not stay at a farm?

Forget Me Not Farm Holidays offer private cottages at a farm which has been in the same family since 1703. The three cottages on the property all offer cosy, spacious stays, and while on the farm you can enjoy one-to-one yoga and as much time as you can stand with the resident Shetland ponies.

The farm is located near Tintagel Castle, famously the birthplace of King Arthur, as well as the Bodmin Moor. This moor is home to countless ancient monuments and can be explored on horseback, with rides ranging from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on your experience level.

Luxembourg

One of the smallest countries in Europe, Luxembourg nonetheless has a lot to offer. Again taking the Eurostar via Paris, tickets from London St Pancras for Friday evening with a Monday evening return are currently priced at £670.

The best place to stay is in the Old Town district, where the streets are closed off to cars and you are within walking distance of almost everything worth seeing in the city. Hotel Le Place d’Armes is a hotel made up of 7 historic buildings at the very centre of Luxembourg Old Town and offers a unique, luxurious experience from €315 per night.

When exploring the Old Town – which is all a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – make sure to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, which contains a world-famous crypt which contains graves of the members of the Luxembourg royal family.


One of the most visited attractions in Luxembourg is the Casemates, underground tunnels built in the 17th century by Spanish settlers modernising the medieval fortifications. A guided tour of the tunnels takes about 45 minutes and costs only €15 per person.

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